Denver, CO July 2, 2008 -- "According to recently released national rankings, Colorado is a fertile state for bioscience and technology initiatives, and we're incredibly thrilled," says Chris Shapard, Deputy Director of the Colorado Bioscience Association (CBSA). "It's nice to see other non-biased sources confirm what we've always known. Denver/Boulder was included in Genome Technology's 20 Best Places For Biotech plus concurrently we were ranked fourth by the Families USA's Global Health Initiative among states that generated the most economic activity per dollar of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to top it off, we placed third ahead of California in the Milken Institute's State Technology and Science Index."

Genome Technology's June article about the top 20 Biotech locations in the world includes Colorado's Denver/Boulder market: "With some 10,000 people employed in biotech, the Denver/ Boulder corridor in Colorado got a major boost recently with the reassignment of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center as a bioscience park. Located in the Denver metro area, the park teams research facilities for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Hospital Complex with the Children's Hospital as well as dedicated incubator and office space. By 2010, planners expect employment at the Fitzsimons site to reach 19,000 people. In 2006, Amgen said it would fund a $150 million expansion of its manufacturing plant in Boulder." The article is available by subscription at http://www.genome-technology.com/issues/

According to a Families USA's Global Health Initiative report, Colorado ranked fourth among states that generated the most economic activity per dollar of funding from the NIH. For every dollar of NIH funding, Colorado generated $2.34 in business activity, only Texas, California and Georgia ranked higher. In 2007 Colorado received approximately $336 million in NIH funding generating a total of $787 million, the report said.

The 10 states that generated the most economic activity per dollar of NIH funding were Texas ($2.49), Illinois ($2.43), California ($2.40), Georgia ($2.36), Colorado ($2.34), Pennsylvania ($2.32), Tennessee ($2.32), Utah ($2.30) Ohio ($2.29), and New Jersey ($2.26). The report is available at http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/global-health/publications/in-your-own-backyard.html

Colorado placed in the top five of all five categories of the Milken Institute's State Technology and Science Index, moving ahead of California in the new overall rankings. Milken ranked Colorado second in the concentration of scientists and engineers.

Milken's 2008 State Technology and Science Index looks at 77 unique indicators that are categorized into five major components: Research and Development Inputs, Risk Capital and Entrepreneurial Infrastructure, Human Capital Investment, Technology and Science Work Force, and Technology Concentration and Dynamism. It is one of the most comprehensive examinations of state technology and science assets ever compiled. For the report, visit: http://www.milkeninstitute.org/pdf/StateTechScienceIndex.pdf

About Genome Technology:
The Genome Technology Online website and a monthly magazine with print and digital editions - reaches a global community of active scientists working in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, universities, and biomedical research institutions. Genome Technology Online is a free Web service supported by advertising. Genome Technology Magazine is a free journal for qualified subscribers and is supported by advertising. Visit http://www.genome-technology.com

About Families USA:
Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Visit http://www.familiesusa.org

About the Milken Institute:
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, independent economic think tank whose mission is to improve the lives and economic conditions of diverse populations around the world by helping business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity. It is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org

About Colorado BioScience Association:
CBSA is a not-for-profit corporation providing services and support for Colorado's growing biosciences industry. With more than 400 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment, grow the state's biotech workforce, fight for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state and speak with a single voice on behalf of the industry. Visit http://www.cobioscience.com

Contacts:
Christine Shapard, Colorado BioScience Association, 303-592-4089

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely PR - http://www.absolutelypr.com - 303-984-9801